Starter for engines.



`V. BENDIX'.4

STARTER FOR ENGINES. APPLlcATloN FILED lunsze. 1914.

Patented July 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

y- WLW Jaim JAM lcwa V. BENDIX. STARTER Fox ENGINES.

APPLICATIDN FILED JUNE 26, i914.

Patented July 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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, l nl l; y l In 1 Vl BENDIX.

STARTER FOR ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED luNEzs. 1914.

1,146,992. Patenbd July 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.STATES PATENT oEEICE. j

'VINCENT BENDIX, or' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.;

S'IAE'IEN. Non ENGINES.

' Specilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2 0, 1915.

Application led J' une 26, 1914. Serial No. 847,496.

To all lwhom it may concern.'

. Be it known that I, VINCENT BENDIX, a Vcitizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook' and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Starters for Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a starter for an engine such as a gas vengineand the object thereof is to provide a simple, elicient and .reliabledevice of this character operated by a prime mover of any ln'nd, suchfor instance as an electric motor. My starter is of that type having ascrew shaft or the like operated by a prime mover either directly fromthe armature shaft orfindirectly by gearing and having mounted thereon adriving member in the form of a pinion adapted to be automaticallyAmeshed in the rotation of the screw shaft with some member of theengine and to be thereupon driven or'rotated for rotating such enginemember.

The particular object of this invention is to improve the structure of aconstruction of this general type by the provision of the severaladvantageous features of -construction and mode of operation which willbe apparent from the description hereinafter` glven.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of direct driven typeof starter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a detail view of the drivingconnection between the motor and screw shaft but on a smaller scale;Fig. 3 a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 an end view ofthe pinion with the weight removed; Fig. 5 a cross-section similar toFig..3 and illustrating the pinion cooperating therewith; Figs. 6 and 7detail 'I- fdrive as shown-.in Fig. v1 and the other; an ,Y

views of the spring anchoring bolts and associatedparts; Fig. 8 a viewsimilar tovFig. 1 but illustrating the indirect drive; Fig. 9 a detailsection illustrating the driving connection between the driving shaftand the screw shaft; Figs. 10 and 11 detailviews similar to Fig. 9 butillustrating modified forms of driving connection. i

' In thedrawings, I vhave illustratedtwo different forms of drive fromlthe prime mover to the screw shaft, one being a direct indirect driveV4as fshown" in Figs. 8 .toC 11.

lI-Iowever, with. 'thisexceptionv the-general construction andithe,principle of operation are the same in bothinstances. y

-, Referring to the form ofstarter shown in travel.

Figs. 1 -and'2 the prime mover is here an electric motor 1 whosearmature shaft is extended to form the driving shaft 2. This shaft ispreferably tapered and is secured by means of a key 3 to a collar. 4,these parts being-held together by means of a'nut 5 screwing on thescrew-threaded end of the armature shaft, Fig. 2. The collar whenA thusin place forms a component part of the driving shaft.

The screw shaft has two separate screwthreaded portions, to wit, anintermediate vportion 6, an louter end portion 7 and also an innercylindrical portion 8 which is recessed to receive the smaller diameterof the providedbetween the collarl and the screw shaft, the same herecomprising a spring 9 coiled around the cylindrical portion 8 of thescrew shaft with one end'anchored to the collar and the othertosuchcylindrical portion by means of the two bolts 10 and 11 respectively. Asshown the collar 4 and the cylinder portion 8 are in axial alinement andcapable both of a relative rotary movement for driving purposes and alsoa slight longitudinal movement for av purpose hereinafter explained.Bypreference the anchoring bolts have lock washers 12 provided withlugs-13 on opposite sides, one of the lugs being adapted to be turneddownwardly the first coil and the other being turned upwardly 'againstone of the Hat sides of the head of the nut, Figs. 6 and 7. In thismanner the bolts are locked against accidental rotation or loosening.

The driving member of the device is here shown as. a pinion 14screw-threaded upon the threads 6 and adapted to coperatewith the drivenmember of the engine to be started such as a wheel 15 like the iy wheelof a gas engine. By preference this pinion is weighted by means of thedepending weight 16 to insure the longitudinal movement of the pinionfor automatic meshing purposes when the screw-shaft is rotated.

between the extreme end of the spring and By preference the intermediateportion of I the screw shafthas a plurality of separate threads insteadof one continuous thread. InA the present instance there arethree of'such separate'threads thereby providing a :las

-17 there being three of these shoulders and likewise theends of thethread which cooperate with these shoulders are terminated abruptly toform opposing shoulders 18.

The cutting of the threads is such that when the pimon reaches itsinward limit'of travel all of the shoulders will contact simultaneouslythereby providing a series of stops acting simultaneously and arrangedequidistantly with respect to the circumference of the screw shaft.These Stops prevent any .possible binding of the pinion when it reachesits inward limit of travel. I do not, however, make any claim to thisstop feature inthe present application as I have made it thesubject-matter of a separate application. With respect to the outer endof the screw thread 6 it is unnecessary to provide any stops inasmuch asthe engine wheel 15 when started on its own power will dislodge thepinion in case there should be any binding thereof. However, theplurality (preferably triple) threads shown herein provide a three-pointbearing of the pinion against the thrust sleeve hereinafter describedand centers it on the shaft.

Upon the outer screw-threaded portion 7 v of the screw shaft is secureda sleeve 19 provided with an end ange forming a thrust collar having abearing in a bushing 20 which is secured in the bearing 21 provided v 1)4 the electric motor has started whereupon the screw shaft is driventhrough themedium of the armature shaft 3, collar 4, and spring 9. Upon'the rotation of the screw .shaft .the pinion will be advanced to theright longitudinally of the screw shaft and intermesh with the enginewheel 15. When the pinion is in full mesh and itslongitudinal movementhas been arrested by the collar 19 it will be rotated by the screw shaftand consequently the wheel 15 willvbe rotated. When the engine begins torun on its own power and the wheel 15 is thereupon A"rotated at anincreased speed the pinion 14 will be automatically unmeshed by beingmoved to the left longitudinally of the screw shaft. After moving aslight distance away from the engine wheel after such unmeshing, thepinion will momentarily stop in its longitudinal Amovement and willrotate with the screw shaft. When the screw shaft has slowed down'somewhat the pinion will thereuponv movelongitudi-nally back to itsnormal or home position at which it is stopped by the contact of therespective shoulders 17 and 18.

In the event that in the longitudinal advance movement of the pinion 14its teeth should not.register with the teethof the engine wheel thescrew shaft is capable of yielding slightly toward the left, theclearance space between the collar 4 and the'cylinder portion 8permitting of this endwise movement which is against the .tension of thespring 9. Owing to this arresting of kthe pinion the latter will startto turn and thereupon the teeth will be brought into register and acompleteand proper meshing assured. This yielding of the screw shaftcushions the contact between the pinion and the engine member andprevents shock or jar of contact between said parts.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, there is shown the indirect drive for thescrew shaft but the construction is otherwise substantially the samevand the corresponding parts will therefore be provided with the sainereference numerals. According to this construction the armature shaft 2carries a driving pinion 23 meshing with a gear 24 which is secured bykeying to a short shaft 25. This shaft has its bearing at one end in theinclosed casing 26 and at its other end in the recess'in the one end ofthe screw shaft. The spring 9 `in the present instance is anchored atits inner end to a pin 27 secured to the gear 24 but at its other end isanchored to the bolt 11 as in the other instance.

InFig. 10 I have shown a modified form as compared with Fig. 9 accordingto which the short shaft 25 is made integral with the screw shafttherebyappearingas an eXtension 28 thereof on which the gear 24 isloosely mounted. In this instance the drive is through the gear 24, pin27, spring 9 and bolt 11 to the screw shaft. The extension portion 28 ofthe screw shaft has atelescoping fit in the driving member or gear 24 topermit of an endwise or longitudinal movement of the shaft. I

VIn Fig. 11 I have shown still another modification according to whichthe shaft 25 has keyed to it the gear 24 and is provided with a collar29 separate `or integral therewith. This collar corresponds with collar4 of Figs. 1 and 2 and the spring 9 is anchored thereto and .to thescrew shaft by means of the bolts 10 and 11 respectively.4

1. A starter for engines comprising a shaft havinga solid screw-threadedsection, a driving device which is screw threaded upon the shaft andadapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage a part of theengine to be driven, a driving member with which the shaft has atelescoping t,

'and a yielding driving connection between said driving member and saidshaft. 2. A starter for engines comprising a shaft having a solidscrew-threaded section, a driving device which is screw threaded uponthe shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage apart 3. A starter for engines comprising afshaft havingV al solidscrew-threaded section, a driving device which is screw threaded uponthe shaft `and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon andtoengagc apart of the engine to be driven, a driving member, the shaft having alongitudinalmovement and having a sliding fit with respect to thedriving member, and a spring secured at one end to the shaft and coiledaround an end thereof, the other end of the spring being secured to saiddriving member.

4. A starter for engines comprising a shaft' having asolidscrew-threaded section, a driving device which is screw threadedupon the shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to`engage a part of the engine to be driven, a rotatable driving memberwith respect to which said shaft has a bearing and with respect to whichit has a longitudinal sliding movement, and

. a yielding driving connection between said driving member and saidshaft.

5. A starter for engines comprising a shaft having a solidscrew-threaded section, a driving device which is screw threaded uponthe shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage apart of the engine to be driven, a driving member with whichthe shafthas a telescoping sliding fit, and a driving connection between saiddriving member and said shaft.

6. A starter for' engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft, a drivingmember which is screw-threaded upon the shafty and adapted to travellongitudinally thereon and to engage a part of the engine to be driven,l

a driving shaft, one of said shafts being recessedl at one end toreceive an end of the othershaft, and a yielding driving connectionbetween the two shafts.

' 7. A starter 'for engines comprising a screw-threaded' shaft havingone oflits ends recessed, a driving member which is-screwthreaded uponthe 'shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage apart of the engine to be driven, a driving shaft entering the recess ofthe screw shaft,v

and a yielding the two shafts. f

8. A starter for engines `comprising a screw-threaded shaft having oneof its ends driving connection between recessed, a driving member whichis screw threaded upon the shaft and adapted to travel longitudinallythereon and to engage apart of the engine to be driven, a collar securedto one end -of the driving shaft and fitting into the recess of thescrew shaft, andk a yielding driving connection between the collar andscrew shaft. A

9. A starter for .engines comprising ascrew-threaded shaft having one ofits ends recessed, a driving member which is screwthreaded upon theshaft and adapted to travel longitudinally` thereon and to engage a partof the engine to be driven, a collar secured to one end ofthe drivingshaft and fitting into the recess ofthe screw shaft, and a yieldingdriving connection between the collar and screw shaft, consisting of aspring coiled around said inner end vof the screw 'shaft with one endanchored to the collar and the other end to the screw shaft.

-10. A starter for .engines comprising a screw-threaded shafthaving oneof its ends recessed, a` driving memberwhich is screwthreaded upon theshaft and'adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage a partof the engineto be driven, a collar secured to one end of the drivingshaft and fitting into the recess A.of the screw shaft, and a yielding.driving connection between the collar and screw shaft, consisting of aspring coiled around the inner end of the screw shaft, and bolts whichare secured to the collar and screw shaft respectively and to which theends of chored. f

11..A starter for engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft, a Ldrivingmember screw-threaded thereon and' adapted to travel longitudinallythereon and to engage the'spring are ana part ofthe engine to be driven,a driving shaft, a yielding driving connection between thetwo shaftsconsisting of a spring coiled around onel end of the screw shaft,rotatable fastening members connected `.respectively with the ends ofthel spring and with the two shafts for anchoring thereto the ends ofthesprin'gs, and washers for said rotatable fastening members, eachwasher having two lugs', onejof which .engages between the end of thespring and the first coil and the other. of Awhich engages the fasteningmember itself to prevent rotation thereof.

- 12. A starter for engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft, a drivingmember which is screw-threaded upon the shaft and adapted toltravellongitudinallythereon and to engage a part of the engine to be driven,

a drivingshaft, anda yielding driving conl nection between the drivingshatft' and screw-shaft, consisting of av spring coiled around the inner4end of the screw shaft, bolts which are secured to the collar and screwshaft respectively and to which the ends of the spring are anchored, anda washer for one of the bolt's,'=such Washer having two lugs, one ofwhich engages bep tween the end of the spring and -the first coil andthe other of which engages the-bolt itself to prevent rotation thereof.s

13. A starten for engines comprising a screw threaded shaft, a drivingmember which is screw threaded thereupon and adapted to travellongitudinally thereon, a driving shaft, said two shafts being inalinement and telescoping at their adjacent ends and having longitudinalmovement with re'4 spect to each other and a yielding driving connectionbetween the twoshafts.

15. 'A starter for engines comprising a' screw threaded shaft, adriving, member which is screw. threaded thereupon and adapted to travellongitudinally thereon, a driving shaft, said two shafts being inalinement and telescoping at their adjacent ends and having longitudinalmovement with respect to each other, and a spring connecting between thetwo shafts and constituting a yielding driving connection and also aresistance for said longitudinal movement.

16. A starter for` engines comprising a screw shaft consistingv of ascrew threaded solid body portion and a recessed end portion, a drivingmember screw threaded upon the shaft and adapted to travellongitudinally thereon, \a driving shaft telescoping into said endportion of the screw shaft, and a -yielding driving connection betweenthe driving shaft and the screw shaft:

17. A starter for engines comprising a screw shaft consisting of a screwthreaded solid body portion and a recessed end portion,

a driving member screw threaded upon the shaft and adaptedito travellongitudinally thereon. a driving shaft telescoping into said endportion of the screw shaft, and the screw shaft having' a longitudinalmovement with respect to the driving shaft, and a spring forming a.driving connection between the two shafts. l I

18. A starter for engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft havingone ofits ends recessed. a driving member which is screwthreaded upon theshaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon and toengage a partof the engine to be driven, a driving shaft, a collar secured to one endof the driving shaft and fitting in to the recess of the screw shaftyanda yielding driving connection between the collar and screwshaft, the screw'sh-aft havinga longitudinal move ment withrespect tothecollar. l

19. A starter for. engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft having oneof its ends.

recessed, a driving member which is screwthreaded upon the shaft andadapted to travel longitudinally thereon and to engage a partof theengine to be driven, `a driving shaft, a collar secured to lone end ofthe driving shaft' and yfitting into the recess of the screw shaft, anda yielding driving connection between the collar and screw shaft,consisting of a spring coiled around the inner end of the screw'shaft,the latter having a longitudinal movement with respect vto the collar,which movement is resisted by the spring.

20. A starter for engines comprising an electric motor including itsarmature shaft, a screw-threaded shaft having its inner end recessed toreceive such armature shaft, a yielding driving connection between thetwo shafts, and a driving member screw-threaded onjthe screw shaft andadapted to engage a part of the engine to -bestarted.

21. A starter for engines comprising an electric motor including itsarmature shaft, a `collar secured to its outer end, a screw-v threadedshaft having its inner ,end recessed to receive such armature shaft, ayielding drlving connection between' the collar and screw shaft, and adriving member screwthreaded on the screw shaft and adapted to engage apart of the 4engine to be started.

22. A starter for engines comprising a ro'- tatable shaft separatelyscrew-threaded as to its outer end and its intermediate portions, adriving member screw-threaded upon said intermediate portion and adaptedto engage a part ofthe engine to be'st'arted, a casing for said shaftand provided with a bearing, a sleeve screwing onto the screw threadson. the outer end of the shaft and mounted in said bearing, and meansfor l driving the shaft.

23. A starter for engines comprising a ro' tatable shaft reversely screwthreaded as to its intermediate portion and outer end, a

driving member screw-threaded upon said' intermediate portion andadapted'to engage a part of the engine to be started, a bearing, asleeve screwing onto the end of the shaft and received by said bearing,and means for driving the shaft.

24. A starter for engines comprising a rotatable shaft reverselyscrew-threaded as to its intermediate portion and outer end, a drivingmember screw-threaded upon said intermediate portion and adapted toengage a part of the engine to be started, a bearing, a sleeve screwingonto the en d of the shaft and received by said bearing, and means fordriving the shaft, said sleeve being flanged at one end and forming athrust collar.'

25QA starter for engines comprising a ro,v

thelouter ends of such threads, and adrivingvmember screw-threaded uponsaid shaft and adapted to travel longitudinally thereon lWhen the shaftvis rotated and to Contact the ends of the threads and thereby be heldcentered When rotating with the shaft.

26. A starter for engines comprising a screw-threaded shaft, a drivingmember which is screw-threaded upon the shaft and adapted to travellongitudinally thereon and 10 to engage a part of the engine to bedriven,

a driving shaft telescoping with the screw S. E. HIBBEN, ROBERTDOBBLEMAN.

